Biden’s AI Cooperation with China Faces Trust Issues and Pressure from Allies
President Biden’s plans to collaborate with China on artificial intelligence (AI) regulations are encountering criticism and pressure from both critics and allies. Following a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, Biden announced that the two nations would organize meetings with AI experts to discuss risk and safety concerns.
While the details of these forthcoming AI meetings are limited, critics argue that the Biden administration should not trust China to uphold any agreement they may reach. Analysts at the RAND Corp. suggest that the US should call China’s bluff, asserting that the Chinese government cannot be trusted and labeling them as liars.
During his meeting with President Xi, many anticipated that Biden would announce a deal with China to ban the use of AI in weaponry, including nuclear warheads and drones. However, instead of such an agreement, the two leaders merely acknowledged the need to address AI risks and expressed a shared goal of enhancing AI safety.
In light of the absence of an AI deal between the US and China, some of Biden’s Democratic allies in Congress are pushing for the adoption of new legislation that would require human involvement in the decision-making process for nuclear warfare. This legislation, known as the Block Nuclear Launch by Autonomous Artificial Intelligence Act, has garnered support from both Democrats and Republicans.
Despite calls for action on new AI regulations, other tech-related matters and changes in House leadership have taken precedence in Congress. However, Biden has issued an executive order aimed at limiting the potential harm from AI and shaping the government’s use of the technology. This order encourages AI developers to share their testing results with federal authorities, while also tasking government officials with establishing new requirements for AI manufacturers.
While the US is collaborating with 45 countries to implement measures guiding responsible AI use in military applications, China has not yet joined this coalition. Instead, they are drafting their own rules for generative AI. Recently, Georgetown University’s Center for Security and Emerging Technology published an English-language translation of China’s draft standards, offering insights into the regulations the Chinese government intends to impose. These standards include oversight processes that Chinese AI companies must incorporate for their data and content, covering safety risks like algorithmic bias, personally identifiable information disclosure, and copyright infringement.
Even if the US and China manage to negotiate AI rules, American officials have doubts about their ability to control the use of new software and AI tools by adversaries. Ambassador Nathaniel C. Fick, leader of the State Department’s cyberspace bureau, expressed this concern to lawmakers, comparing it to the difficulty of halting nuclear proliferation.
In summary, President Biden’s plans for AI cooperation with China are facing challenges from critics questioning China’s trustworthiness and from allies who seek a different path for future cooperation. While AI meetings are scheduled to take place, doubts remain regarding China’s reliability. Furthermore, discussions on AI regulations are accompanied by debates within Congress, where some lawmakers advocate for legislation requiring human involvement in decisions related to nuclear warfare. The absence of an AI agreement between the US and China has led to growing concerns about AI control, with American officials questioning their ability to limit its use by adversaries.
